Walid Freiha

CEO

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia24 yrs 7 mos experience
Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

  • Over 25 years in real estate and construction leadership.
  • Expert in managing mega projects and smart urban transformation.
  • Passionate about proptech and sustainable city development.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a real estate and construction expert specializing in mega projects and urban development.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Strategic PlanningProject & Development ManagementUrban IntegrationProject ManagementDesign ManagementArchitectural DesignFacade Design

Other Skills

GCC Real EstateMega ProjectsSmart CitiesReal EstateConstructionConstruction ManagementFacade EngineeringMicrosoft ExcelPMO DevelopmentOperational PlanningEducational FacilitiesMicrosoft PowerPointContract Negotiation

About

I am a real estate and construction professional with 25+ years of leadership across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC. Currently serving as Development Director & Integration Lead at Diriyah Company, I’ve overseen the development of complex urban megaprojects rooted in cultural heritage, scale, and strategic vision. My strengths lie in cross-functional integration, managing multidisciplinary teams, and aligning design, cost, procurement, and execution strategies to deliver on time and on vision. I’ve led major design competitions, spearheaded smart urban transformation, and consistently driven project efficiency through technology, process refinement, and clear stakeholder alignment. I’m passionate about proptech, sustainable development, and reimagining how cities grow — combining tradition with innovation. Let’s connect if you're building the future of cities

Experience

Diriyah company l شركة الدرعية

3 roles

Development Director and Integration Lead

Promoted

Jul 2023Present · 2 yrs 8 mos

Strategic PlanningUrban IntegrationGCC Real EstateProject & Development ManagementMega ProjectsSmart Cities+2

Associate Development Director and Integration Lead

Jun 2023Jul 2023 · 1 mo

Strategic PlanningUrban IntegrationGCC Real EstateMega ProjectsSmart Cities

Associate Development Director

Jul 2021Jun 2023 · 1 yr 11 mos

Strategic PlanningUrban IntegrationGCC Real EstateMega ProjectsSmart Cities

Jll

2 roles

Director

Promoted

Nov 2018Jul 2021 · 2 yrs 8 mos

  • Director at JLL and part of the P&DS (Project and Development Services) department with an experience spanning 18 years in the Saudi and GCC markets and a wide network of connections with local and international architectural and engineering consultancy firms.
  • Currently in charge of base build projects with an overarching role that includes business development, project management, design management, construction management, development management and team-wide technical support.
  • Core competencies in the management of mega projects, the setup of project and portfolio based PMOs, operational planning for industrial zones, mixed-use district planning and development in addition to the delivery of a wide variety of asset classes.
Strategic PlanningUrban IntegrationGCC Real EstateProject & Development ManagementMega ProjectsSmart Cities

Associate

Nov 2016Oct 2018 · 1 yr 11 mos

  • Associate at JLL, part of the P&DS (Projects and Development Services), responsible for base build projects. Role includes project management, design management, construction management, development management and team-wide technical support.
  • Current projects include:
  • King Abdullah Financial District - KAFD (Project Management/Construction Management)
  • Confidential Headquarters at KAFD (Design Management/Project Management)
  • Confidential Mixed Use Project (Development Management)
  • Confidential Kingdom wide schools program (Design Management/Project Management)
Strategic PlanningUrban IntegrationGCC Real EstateMega ProjectsSmart CitiesProject & Development Management

Assystem radicon

Senior Project Manager

Sep 2015Nov 2016 · 1 yr 2 mos · Riyadh, KSA

  • Project Director on behalf of Assystem for the Saudi Ministry of Interior’s nationwide King Abdullah Program. Currently responsible for multi-disciplinary design management for 4 major sites measuring 1 million square meters each.
  • Responsibilities include
  • Managing all discipline leads to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the design process.
  • Manage project budget, manhour consumption, KPI’s and project risks
  • Manage the work load for the discipline leads in coordination with the company priorities and provide periodic status updates to the board of directors on progress, forecasts and risks.
  • Oversee the management of 3rd party designers and design consultants, to ensure that all drawing submittals are in line with client specifications.
  • Review and approve major revisions to architectural drawings
  • Provide general design guidance and expertise
GCC Real EstateProject & Development ManagementMega Projects

Aecom

3 roles

Design Manager

Oct 2014Aug 2015 · 10 mos · Riyadh

  • Technical team leader on behalf of AECOM for the Saudi Ministry of Education’s nationwide schools development program. Currently responsible for design project management for the ministry of education’s 3,000+ projects across the kingdom.
  • Responsibilities include:
  • Managing all discipline leads to ensure effectiveness and efficiency in the design process.
  • Manage the work load for the discipline leads in coordination with Senior Management priorities and provide periodic status on the Department work Plan.
  • Ensure coordination with Corporate Planning and Business Development on master plan, concept design and feasibility and project department to ensure alignment during the design phase.
  • Oversee the management of 3rd party designers and design consultants.
  • Provide value engineering solutions and provide recommendations to project teams
  • Ensure that adequate level of technical support is provided to project teams during execution and commissioning phases to address constructability issues
  • Review and approve major revisions to architectural drawings
  • Provide general architectural guidance and expertise
  • Sign-off on mock ups, show schools/ classrooms for final implementation on the ground
  • Manage the issuance of all required government permits, construction licenses and certificates (assist project teams and service providers)
GCC Real EstateMega ProjectsProject & Development Management

Lead Architect

Mar 2014Oct 2014 · 7 mos · Riyadh

  • Managed the design activities by third party consultants for King Abdullah Project for the Development of General Education - Schools program. Currently responsible for managing the delivery of the first 150 school projects Kingdom wide.
GCC Real EstateMega ProjectsProject & Development Management

Project Manager

Jul 2013Oct 2014 · 1 yr 3 mos · Riyadh

  • Project Manager for the design of a 400,000 sqm high profile mixed use development project in Jeddah. The project was composed of two high rise residential towers, one 5 star hotel, ballroom and shopping mall. Responsibilities covered design management and multi-disciplinary coordination with the lead consultant, interior designer, F&B designer and retail designer all of which are award winning international firms.
  • Project Manager for the design and execution of Etihad Airways' Sales Office in Medina - KSA
GCC Real EstateMega ProjectsProject & Development Management

Memar for development and construction

Engineering Department Manager

Nov 2010Jun 2013 · 2 yrs 7 mos · Riyadh, KSA

  • Architectural and Interior design, Studies and Coordination of the company’s projects in KSA and Maintenance Management of Noura Complex.
  • Projects include :
  • Noura Residential Complex ( Riyadh, KSA)
  • Herat Residential Tower (Khobar, KSA)
  • Silkroad Hotel (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Hitteen Residential Complex (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Balad Business Center (Jeddah, KSA)
  • Waraqat Bookstore (Riyadh, KSA)
  • 180 Degrees Hotels (Riyadh, KSA)
  • 180 Degrees, King Fahad Road Tower (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Jeddah Gate Developement (Jeddah, KSA)
GCC Real EstateProject & Development ManagementMega Projects

Mazsky-chateau

Architectural Consultant

Jul 2008Nov 2010 · 2 yrs 4 mos · Beirut, Lebanon - Vancouver, Canada

  • Worked as Architectural Consultant to Mazsky-Chateau of Canada for their
  • projects covering wood framed construction in the Middle East and North Africa
  • region until November 2010.
GCC Real EstateProject & Development Management

Erga architects

Architect

Nov 2007Nov 2010 · 3 yrs · Riyadh, KSA

  • Responsibilities :
  • Responsible for Architectural and interior design development, structural, electrical and mechanical design coordination, tendering, submittals, draftsmen management and client coordination of the company’s projects in KSA.
  • Projects included :
  • Madina Hotel 5045 (Madina, KSA)
  • Madina Hotel 4072 (Madina, KSA)
  • Islam Today Office Building (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Fardan Offices Building (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Fardan Twin Towers (Khobar, KSA)

Alfa company

Premises Manager

Sep 2006Nov 2007 · 1 yr 2 mos · Riyadh, KSA

  • Responsibilities :
  • Responsible for designing, building and managing the
  • execution of the company’s projects throughout KSA.
  • Projects included :
  • Steak House – Jubail (Jubail, KSA)
  • Steak House – Millennium Center (Jeddah, KSA)
  • Steak House – Red Sea Mall (Jeddah, KSA)
  • Steak House – Ahsaa Road (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Steak House – Takhassussi (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Steak House – North Ring Road (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Piatto Restaurant – North Ring Road (Riyadh, KSA)
GCC Real EstateArchitectural Design

Hoshan company ltd.

Projects Manager

Sep 2004Sep 2006 · 2 yrs · Riyadh, KSA

  • Responsibilities :
  • Responsible for managing the execution of the
  • company’s projects throughout the Kingdom of Saudi
  • Arabia. Responsibilities included management of the
  • department’s logistics, finances, execution
  • procedures and policies to the client’s full
  • satisfaction. Work covered contracting, furnishings,
  • finishing and flooring activities. The average annual
  • workload was around 30 Million USD and the
  • department consisted of 36 employees.
  • Projects included :
  • National Commercial Bank (24 Branches)
  • Al Rajhi Bank (14 Branches)
  • Saudi American Bank (16 Branches)
  • Al Bilad Bank (28 Branches)
  • Bank Al Riyad (13 Branches)
  • Saudi French Bank (6 Branches)
  • Saudi British bank (12 Branches)
  • Saudi Hollandi Bank (8 Branches)
  • Saudi Telecommunication Company (24 Branches)
  • EG&G Head Offices (Jeddah, KSA)
  • EG&G Head Offices (Khobar, KSA)
  • Qassim National Hospital (Bureida, KSA)
  • King Abdullah Museum (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Saudi Council for Health Specialties (Riyadh, KSA)
  • King Faisal Specialist Hospital (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Habib Medical Center (Riyadh, KSA)
  • AUB Clinic (Dubai, UAE)
  • Clemenceau Medical Center (Lebanon)
  • Abbot Laboratories (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Al Olayan Head Office (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Saudi Communication Council (Riyadh, KSA)
  • King Saud University (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Callem Head Office (Riyadh, KSA)
GCC Real EstateProject Management

Saudi aluminum

Technical Design Manager

Sep 2003Aug 2004 · 11 mos · Riyadh, KSA

  • Responsibilities :
  • Responsible for designing building skins, cladding
  • and glazing systems. Responsibilities include
  • surveying, designing, planning and supervision.
  • Projects included :
  • Arabian Auto Agency (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Surebeam Project (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Secure Vision Project (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Hazzaa Building (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Al Jabr Building (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Durrat Al Murooj (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Grain Silos Headquarters (Riyadh, KSA)
  • 80 Center (Riyadh, KSA)
  • National Commercial Bank (Riyadh, KSA)

Permasteelisa group - josef gartner & co. (me) ltd. (formerly gotz me)

Technical Manager

Apr 2001Sep 2003 · 2 yrs 5 mos · Riyadh, KSA

  • The company specialized in providing solutions for
  • building skins, high tech glazing systems,
  • architectural metals and finishing solutions. I was
  • responsible for both the estimation department and
  • the new studies department, mainly proposing
  • concepts for building envelope solutions. I followed
  • training courses in Germany and gave several
  • seminars in Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries for
  • private and public organizations. Assisted in work on
  • over 60 projects most prominent of which are listed
  • below.
  • Executed Projects :
  • Al Faisaliah Tower (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Kingdom Center (Riyadh, KSA)
  • Arraya Center (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
  • Madina Hilton (Madina, KSA)
  • Fahaheel Waterfront (Fahaheel, Kuwait)
  • Design Proposals:
  • Etisalat Dubai (Dubai, UAE)
  • Munich 4 complex (Munich, Germany)
  • Catamaran building (Vienna, Austria)
  • Marina Towers (Beirut. Lebanon)
  • Nile Hilton (Khartoum, Sudan)
  • EPCC Headquarters (Khobar, KSA)
  • Deira Tower (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
  • Al Jazeera Offices (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
  • State Audit Bureau HQ (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
  • Kuwait Free Trade Zone HQ (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
  • Al Subaie Center (Khobar, KSA)
  • AL Rashed Tower (Khobar, KSA)
  • Jabal Al Qalaa project (Makkah, KSA)
  • Turki Bin Nasser Palace (Ubhor, KSA)
  • Al Awadi Tower (Kuwait City, Kuwait)
  • Qatar National Library (Doha, Qatar)
  • Doha University of Technology (Doha, Qatar)
Facade EngineeringFacade Design

Education

Lebanese American University

B-Arch (Honors) — Architecture

Jan 1993Jan 1998

American Military University

Master of Arts - MA in Military Studies — Irregular Warfare

Jun 2025Jun 2028

University of East London

Post Graduate Associate Certificate — Sustainability and Adaptation for the Built Environment

Sep 2008Sep 2009

Lebanese American University

Computer Science

Jan 1991Jan 1993

Heriot-Watt University

Real Estate and Planning

Jan 2016Jan 2017

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